Indian Institute of Art and Design, New Delhi
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The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) in two stages: the Prelims and Mains. All registered candidates first appear for the DAT Prelims, which serves as a screening round. Based on their performance in the Prelims, a limited number of candidates are shortlisted for the DAT Mains, which includes a studio test and a personal interview. The NID DAT Prelims entrance exam was conducted on December 21, 2025. Candidates will be selected for the DAT Mains based on the potential mark cut-off for the DAT Prelims. As to when will DAT Prelims results will be declared, they are set on different dates for B.Des and M.Des. Candidates can check out the expected NID DAT result for the Prelims round down below.
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Read the article below to know how many candidates will be selected for NID Mains 2026, and the potential marks they need to score to be selected for NID Mains 2026.
Also read- How many students appeared for NID DAT?
The number of candidates selected for NID DAT Mains 2026 is not fixed and varies every year. Typically, NID shortlists multiple times the number of available seats for the Mains stage. According to the Information Brochure for the 2026 round a number of candidates 1.5 times the number of available seats will be chosen for the Mains Round.
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The DAT Prelims plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for NID Mains. While Prelims scores cutoffs nare used only for shortlisting and do not carry weightage in the final merit list, candidates must secure a qualifying score or rank to be considered for the Mains stage. Changes in the NID selection process may influence cutoff trends and shortlisting numbers. In the meantime candidates can check out the table below for a reference for the DAT Prelims score.
Category | Tentative Marks Based on Prior NID Cut-offs |
Open | 56-60 |
OBC - NCL | 40-44 |
EWS | 48-52 |
ST | 42-44 |
SC | 27-30 |
PwD | 8-10 |
Overseas | 22-25 |
Several factors influence how many students are selected for NID Mains each year. These include the total number of students who appeared, difficulty level of the Prelims exam, seat intake across NID campuses, and category-wise reservations. Due to these variables, the exact number of shortlisted candidates for NID Mains 2026 will be confirmed only after the Prelims results are declared.
The National Institute of Design has notified in its admission handbook that approximately candidates numbering 1.5 times the number of seats will qualify for the NID Mains. The table below provides the details for how many candidates were selected for NID B.Des mains in the previous year.
Category | Rank Starts | Rank Ends | Score Cut-off for Each Category |
General | 1 | 193 | 59 |
General EWS | 1 | 134 | 46 |
OBC | 1 | 204 | 51 |
SC | 1 | 176 | 46 |
ST | 1 | 110 | 38 |
PWD | 1 | 67 | 19 |
Overseas | 1 | 106 | 22.5 |
On Question asked by student community
Dear Student,
For NID DAT exam preparation, you can follow the preparation tips provided by Careers360. The article covers important aspects such as understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, choosing the right study material, practising previous-year papers, and taking mock tests.
Use these strategies
Hello Student,
To start your NID DAT and UCEED preparation, begin with the syllabus, exam pattern, and previous years' question papers. You can also refer to the Careers360 preparation resources and sample papers for regular practice using the links provided below.
No, the NID DAT Prelims paper is not exactly the same for B.Des and M.Des aspirants.
You can check these resources for more clarity:
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nid-dat-sample-papers
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nid-mdes-previous-year-question-papers-with-solution
Hello Dear Student,
Could you provide more information so that i could help you further
No specific stream is required in Class 11 for BDes admissions. You can join B.Des (Bachelor of Design) with any stream in Class 11th (Science, Commerce, or Arts/Humanities). Top design institutes like NID ( NID DAT scores) and NIFT ( NIFT Entrance Exam ), as well as IITs (via UCEED),
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